Send a PM to FR500GT if you want the best film and app. Local contact for the I know the guy deal.

 

 

I have my whole windshield tinted in UV clear... definitely rejects heat ands protects leather dash...i have no halo effects at night...

 

3M manufacturers ALL thier own products. They do not purchase films from other manufacturers ulike Suntek, Xpel and many other film names. Eastman Chemicals does make Suntek and Llumar films. Contact 3M directly and ask them. YOU most likely could purchase bulk 3M Cystaline film and then have the local guy who you choose to install it. Get what you want, dont settle.

Also----the new 3M films use %'s that differ from the rest. The %'s take in account for the factory tint, so people dont put 35% tint thinking after they install its still 35% when due to the factory tint its way darker. They used the standard industry numbers from factory tint for thier equation.

 

This is what one store gave me.

LLumar ATC - 99% UV Protection
50% - 26% heat rejection
35% - 35% heat rejection
20% - 41% heat rejection
15% - 44% heat rejection
05% - 47% heat rejection

LLumar CTX - 99% UV Protection
50% - 35% heat rejection
40% - 47% heat rejection
15% - 55% heat rejection
05% - 60% heat rejection

LLumar AIR - 99.9% UV Protection
80% - 43% heat rejection + 78% VLT

Madico Wincos IR - 99% UV
60% - 44% heat rejection + 92% IR
45% - 49% heat rejection + 92% IR
30% - 53% heat rejection + 92% IR
20% - 57% heat rejection + 92% IR
10% - 64% heat rejection + 92% IR

I don't really get the numbers of stuff like VLT but it seems like a no brainer. If Madico Winco has ifrared protection and Llumar does not, isn't Madico a superior product since it protects against UV + heat + infrared compared to Llumar which only protects against UV and heat only?

 

Here is something I have had for a while that I pass on too friends looking for tint specs. IR is not a huge deal IMHO. I would get the best 3M offers or the Madico "WIncos" tint in the darkness that will pass inspection.

Common misconceptions.

1) Should I compare infrared (IR) rejection or Total Solar Energy Rejected? Most people think of IR when they think of heat - however this is not accurate as Infrared rays only compose of 53% of the total solar energy. Infrared rays make up about 53% of the solar energy. Visible light makes up about 44% and lastly ultraviolet (UV) light about 3%. All of these 3 energy make up the solar spectrum and their combined energy is what we refer to when we use the term total solar energy. Therefore, when comparing how much heat it can reject, we should be comparing Total Solar Energy Rejected (UV + visible + IR). Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) is a factor that describes the total amount of solar energy (UV + visible + IR) that is rejected from passing through glass. The IR rejection rate is a number that lets customer understand that the film can reject majority of the heat from infrared.It does not mean that if a large portion of the IR is blocked then almost no heat will be transmitted through a film.

2) Does a higher TSER means the window film is superior? No. It does not make it a better performing film as a film with a high TSER (Total Solar Energy Rejected) could just mean a lower VLT and highly reflective. The best way to determine between films is to compare films with the same VLT (visible light transmission).

3) This "cheaper" film performed as well in terms of heat rejection during live demo, thus it is better? Some window film (ceramic based) perform as well as other sputtered/reflective films during live demo. However to further test the performance, expose it to higher heat and longer duration of time - and compare again. Ceramic based films absorb heat energy and over time, heat still seeps through. While sputtered films reflect heat away, resulting in consistently high performance even after long periods of time.



4) This window tint can block 99% Infrared, is this true? The sunlight is made up of 2% ultraviolet, 44% visible light, and 53% infrared energy, all of these energy generate heat. Blocking 99% of the infrared would NOT block 99% of the heat, but only 99% of 53%. One point to note when some window film claims to block 99% of the sun’s infrared energy. Blocking 99% of the infrared rays does to apply to the whole infrared wavelength . Ask your dealer about this, if he is honest and knowledgeable, he would give you the answer that it only blocks 99% of infrared at a single wavelength. Also beware of measuring devices that measure infrared heat performance, these devices only measure a certain range of wavelength that best suits their type film. (ie 900nm-1100nm)

Thus, to truly check whether the film is the best and most suited for you,

1) First decide on how much visible light you prefer (ie how dark you want your film to be).

2) Total Solar Energy Rejected

3) Most importantly! Test and feel it yourself!

 

This store that installs 3M says just based on their previous experiences, with installing 3M Crystalline on Vantages, from the inside of the Aston's front windshield to the bottom part where the front dash panel meets the glass, is extremely tight. They would have to cut the film shorter so that the film's bottom edge does not get stuck in between the panel and the glass.

Anyone experience this? I thought computers pre-cut tint so it fits?

 

All tinters would have this same issue, not a tint company specific. Also dont think pre-cut would be out there for a front windshield, especially an Aston. It clear, cut it a bit short, you likely will not notice at all.

There are pre-cut patterns out there, but the installers need to have the program and plotter to do that. Not with 3M, but alot of companies require you to pay a monthly fee for those. Old School window tint never had those options, so hand cutting is the way to go and tradition seems to follow. Easier for the companies to them that way. Pre-cut are typically ones you can get on eBay. I have done side windows with pre-cut and they were great, but I wouldn't ever try a rear window on a Vantage or DB9.

 

Hi Lovingit,

I represent 3M Company and would like to provide some insight.

3M Crystalline was initially designed to provide heat rejection without darkening the windows of your car. The technology of the film is amazing. It's manufactured of over 200 layers of material and is thinner than a Post-it Note, which 3M also makes. Crystalline is now offered in darker shades for consumers wanting the superior heat rejection and the typical look of a dark tint.

3M Crystalline rejects 97% of the sun's infrared heat from 900-1,000 nanometers. When comparing 3M performance characteristics to another manufacturer's product, please make sure it's an apples-to-apples comparison. You'd need to look to make sure the range (in nanometers) and the base glass is the same for a true comparison.

3M Crystalline is actually the cousin to an optical film that 3M manufactures for cell phones, tablets, laptops, and HDTVs. There is an optical film that reflects light to brighten the screens of those devices.

Please let me know if you have any questions.


Regards,
Manny

 

Hi again Lovingit,

It is a common myth that other manufacturers make 3M window film products. Let me provide some clarity.

3M Company holds the original patent for window film, dating back to 1966. Here is a video of the 3M engineer who invented window film: . This video was shot to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the product in 2016.

3M manufacturers its own polyester, which is the basis of all films. Other window film manufacturers source their polyester from polyester manufacturers such as Dupont or Mitsubishi. 3M is also a world leader in adhesives. (An adhesive that dries clear and adheres to the glass without bubbling is essential to the performance of any film.) Case in point, over 30 years ago, 3M introduced tape that replaced bolts and rivets. Take a look at the following video: .

3M Crystalline is a nano-layered film that is comprised of over 200 layers of polyester sandwiched together. Very few companies in the world can manufacture at the nano level. 3M is one of a handful that can. Consequently, Crystalline is manufactured in-house by 3M. And so are the Color Stable and Obsidian lines of films.

Having said that, there are some entry-level films that 3M does outsource because an outside manufacturer can manufacture a low-end film more cost effectively than 3M can. 3M plays at the top of the pyramid for most of the 50,000 products it makes. For example, Filtrete filters for your home HVAC system are more sophisticated and expensive than generic entry-level filters.

But rest assured, 3M Crystalline, as well as Color Stable and Obsidian, are manufactured by 3M in the USA of globally sourced materials.


Regards,
Manny

 

Hi (yet) again Lovingit,

All tinted films block out UV, visible light, and infrared (IR). Most films block out 99%-99.9% of UV. The darker the film, the more visible light that is blocked out. All films block out IR to some extent. However, if they don't block out too much, they are not marketed as such.

Crystalline blocks out a lot of IR and depending on the darkness of the Crystalline film you choose, can block out a lot of visible light. Since IR and visible light are a source of heat, a dark Crystalline can block out more heat than any other film on the market. (Per my previous post, you'd have to make sure that the testing standards used by each manufacturer are the same when comparing performance characteristics.)

So if your goal is maximum energy reduction, you can't go wrong with a dark Crystalline. Please keep in mind that each state has different laws governing the darkness of a film.


Regards,
Manny

 

Do any of these ceramic tints interfere with the laser and radar systems like Escort?